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What is a marshal and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

A marshal is an officer that is in charge of organizing staff, especially in case of an emergency response. There are many different kinds of marshals. Marshals can work for the fire department, for law enforcement as part of the U.S. Marshal Service, or for a local government.

No matter their specific duties, marshals need to be highly organized people that can keep their heads in an emergency. They are well-versed in safety procedures and standards so they can quickly organize a team to respond to an emergency situation. Even when there is not an emergency, marshals play a vital role in routine security procedures and making sure that an agency's operations are up to standards.

The job of a marshal comes with great responsibility. Most marshals have several years of experience working in law enforcement or emergency response. Formal education is less important than practical experience, which is why only about half have a bachelor's degree. Marshals earn an average salary of $52,622 a year.

ScoreMarshalUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $36,029

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 2.83%

Black or African American 11.58%

Hispanic or Latino 17.00%

Unknown 5.00%

White 62.93%

Gender

female 33.71%

male 66.29%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Marshal career paths

Key steps to become a marshal

  1. Explore marshal education requirements

    Most common marshal degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.8 %

    High School Diploma

    21.0 %

    Associate

    15.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific marshal skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Safety Standards19.84%
    Cleanliness14.69%
    Sales Floor12.53%
    Safety Procedures11.93%
    CPR9.91%
  3. Complete relevant marshal training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New marshals learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a marshal based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real marshal resumes.
  4. Research marshal duties and responsibilities

    • Manage training resources including weapons, ammunition, and range facilities.
    • Design and write the ETL process using PLSQL and Unix shell.
    • Clean the store, windows, floors, track, and the parking lot.
    • Certify SFA and Adult/Infant CPR.
  5. Prepare your marshal resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your marshal resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a marshal resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable marshal resume templates

    Build a professional marshal resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your marshal resume.
    Marshal Resume
    Marshal Resume
    Marshal Resume
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    Marshal Resume
    Marshal Resume
    Marshal Resume
    Marshal Resume
    Marshal Resume
  6. Apply for marshal jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a marshal job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first marshal job

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Average marshal salary

The average marshal salary in the United States is $36,029 per year or $17 per hour. Marshal salaries range between $26,000 and $49,000 per year.

Average marshal salary
$36,029 Yearly
$17.32 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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